Drain closure unit



March 18, 1952 O, F COUCHOT DRAIN CLOSURE UNIT 2 SHEETS--SHEET l Filed Sept. 2, 1949 A Harney March 18, 1952 o. F. coUcHOT DRAIN cLosuRE UNIT 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1949 ryZZA'e FCO zzcot Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED sirAr es PATENT oep-FICE DRAINCLOSURE'UNITl Orville .Couchot, De LandFla. Applicatiimxseptember 2, 1949, SerialNo. 113,802

31 Claims.r

This invention relatesn to aY novel construction of drain closure r valve for use' onl drain pipes of laundry tubs or washing-'machine tubs and which is particularly adaptedfor'lapplication to drainpipesv having discharge ends openingl above a sewer drain.

More particularly, it is a primary' object ofthe present invention to provide a1 drainV closureand actuator unit` which may be readily applied to the outlet end of drain pipes oflaundry'v orwashing machine tubs and which is equippedwith a` convenientlyl located actuating rod for' either opening or closing'the' unit.

A primary object of` the presentl invention" is to provide' a closureandl closurev actuating unit primarily intended for use with laundry equipment of self" laundryl establishments and which will enableA customers thereofY to readilyA drain a laundry tub orwashing machine tub without being required to reach beneaththe tub to* open or close thel drain valveor closure and whichjfis provided with means for positively Vmaintaining the closurein either an'open` ora closed' position;

Various other: objects and advantages ofY the invention will hereinafterA 'become more" fully` apparent from the followingy descriptionofthe drawings, illustrating preferredembodiments thereof, and wherein? Figurel l is a.; `fragn'rentaryelevational'vievv,

partly in section of aA portion. of' aY 'laundry' tub or washing machine tub and showing one :form

of the1 drain: closure and' closure` actuatingv unit applied thereto and inia' closed position;v

Figure 2 isa horizontal"sectional'viewvr taken substantially along' av planegasl indicated r'by the line 2.-2 of Figure 1;

Figui-e3 isa fragmentary*sideelevational view showing the-unit in' anv open-position;

Figurel isa fragmentary side` elevationalview, partly'y in vertical section showing 'the -unit f in I a closed position;

Figure 10' is laperspective' v-iew: of'oney element ofthe unit, and- Figurel-ll? isa side elevationaliview'of a; multi?- section laundry tub showing twoo'fi therunitsapplied to one of each of twosdrainl pipesof.- the laundry tub.-

Referring more specically to ,thes-drawing's, and rst-with reference tothe -formlofi the i'nvention:v as illustratedl in'M Figuresilft'o 5 frthe purpose of illustrating a-preferred1 application and use of the drainpipe-'closure andi' closure actuator, designatedgenerally'll 2Land1rcomprisin'g the invention a portion of-faf laundrly ltub orlwashing machine tubv is-illustrated in=A Figure l. and designated generally I3A including.. ap'ontio'ni of the bottomV I4 thereof which is provided: with a drain opening I5; The openingI.5isinternally threaded to receive one externally'. threadederid I6 of a drain pipe,l designatedgenerallyiI1which is bent sothat--its lower;.discliargeiendl 8,:isfo1set with respect 'to `vits inlet lendfl 6 andzisadisposedito open downwardly-'at ananglei, Thedisclrarge'iend I 8, which Ais likewisel extern'allyxthreadedgias seen ini Figure l 4, is normallyadapted to; openzlabovera sewer' drain,v not shown; andi isf. disposed above. a supporting` surface'. f I 9 on whichf` the:l supporting legs of they tub 'I3'. rests; 4one `voffwhic'li. legsi'20 isv illustratedf inr Figures 12 andi'A 2;. The pants'aI3 to'20, inclusi-ve, form nopart ofrith'e presentt-invention but have= merely beenz'illustrated Aand brieflyl described' to:I afford? a better;` understanding of tliedrain' pipeclosure' andiclosureactlator unit I 2` whichv comprises: theaiiwention.`

Said unit I2 includes 1.a rbddymember, .'.des-igf nated generally,y ZI; having'.'aesleeilepoitionz 22 provided with*I a bore, 23?.;whichextendsr longitudinally therethrough'. andi which: is internally threaded at' one endA thereoft'o receive thetexternally threaded idischargeend; I of theedra'impipe I1 for detachably. mounting tll'eunit; If2 thereon. The body member 2| iszprovi'dedwitli'airrintegral laterally projecting'extensionZll whichsfdisposed contiguous with the: upper" internally;l threaded end ofthe boret 23,:Wliichisi engagedzby the: pipe end I 8. SaidfextensiniZd iprojects; generallyffupwardly withr respecttoi the? pipe;''end-.fl 8f ands-has a longitudinally' slotted outer portion12 5r thefvslot of which opensv outwardly. thereof. andlikew'ise extends longitudinally of their' bodyi` member.'4 2 I from end-to -endl of ithelateralvexten'sionf 2li' and in a direction-generally"parallelzto'the-=boier23- The slotted portion'. 25V forms :spacedrsubstantially parallel walls: 26.: and` 231x and: theupper? edge portion of the wall 21.iisprovidedwithaf-notoh28.

The body member M is alsoprovided'withran ear 29- which.p'ojects'loutwardlyr andrdowirwardly from the sleeve portion 22. The ear 29 is disposed beneath the extension 24 and extends to below the lower end of the sleeve portion 22. An arm, designated generallyl 30 has ends 3| and 32 which are disposed substantially at an oblique angle to onel another. The inner portion of the end 32, which is located adjacent the bight portion of the arm 3|] is bifurcated to receive the free' end of the ear 29 and pivotally supported thereby on a pin 33 which extends through said ear and through the arm portion 32.

A relatively rigid disk-shaped valve or closure 34, which is preferably formed of a relatively rigid rubber or rubber composition is disposed on the inner side of the arm portion 3| and spaced therefrom by a washer 35 and is mounted by a nut and bolt fastening 36 which extends through the closure disk 34, washer 35 and outwardly through the arm portion 3|. When said arm portion 3| is disposed substantially parallel to the lower end of the sleeve portion 22 or at substantially a right angle -to the axis of the bore 23, as seen in Figures 1 and 4, the closure disk or valve 34 will have its outer portion seated against the lower or discharge end of the sleeve portion .22 for closing the lower, outlet end of the bore 23. The opposite, upper end of the sleeve portion 22, opposite to the extension 24 is provided with an upwardly opening hook 31 to which is connected the ends of a contractile coil spring 38 the intermediate portion of which extends around the arm portion 3| and is connected to the exposed end of the bolt of the fastening 36 so that said spring 38 will yieldably retain the arm 34` in its position of Figures l and 4 for holding the closure or valve 34 in a position for closing the lower, discharge end of the bore 23; said spring 38 being of sufficient strength to maintain the valve or closure 34 in sealing engagement with` the lower end of the sleeve portion 22.

The arm portion 32 is bifurcated to its outer end and the furcations thereof are provided with complementary downwardly extending enlargements 39. An actuating rod 43 extends loosely through an opening 4I in the upper portion of the leg`2|l and is provided at its upper end with an eye or handle portion 42 which is disposed I above and outwardly of said leg 20. The actuating rod V.40 extends downwardly and inwardly f.om the opening 4| to one side of the upper end ofthe drain pipe I1 and over another angularly disposed portion thereof, as seen in Figure 2 and vhas a-'lower portion thereof extending reciprocally through the slotted portion 25 and thencev through the bifurcated arm portion 32, as best seen in Figure 4. The lower end of the rod 46 is threaded as seen at 43 to receive a nut 44 which is'adustable Vthereon for adjustablysupporting a metal washer45 on the rod end 43 and above the nut 44. The washer 45 has its upper side 'bearing on the rounded enlargements 39 which form bearing surfaces for said washer. A pin :'46 extends between the free ends of the furcations of thev arm 'portion V32 to prevent the rod 46 from being'displaced outwardly through the arm portion 32. A pin 41 extends transversely through the rod 49 and projects laterally therefrom and is disposed to engage the upper' edge of the wall 26 when the closure 34 is in a closed position for supporting the actuating rod 46, against downward sliding movement relatively `to the body member 2|. A short length of rod 48 is secured in any suitable manner as by welding, as seen at 49 to the rod 40 below and adjacent the pin 41and said rod 48' is" disposedon Athe upper side of said rod 46 and is positioned between the walls 26 and 21 when the closure 34 is in its closed position.

Bygrasping the eye or handle 42 and exerting a pull on the rod 40,'the arm 30 will be caused to rock from its position of Figures l and 4 to its position of Figure 3 and with the washer 45 pivoting on the enlargements 39. The rod 46 may then be rotated a quarter of a turn for swinging the lower end of the short rod 48 into the notch 28 and so that it may rest on the bottom of said notch for positively retaining the closure 34 in its open position of Figure 3 and -against the action of the expanded spring 38.

However, by merely rotating the rod '46 a quarter of a turn in the opposite direction, the unit I2 will be released from its latched, opened position of Figure 3 and so that the spring 38 may return the parts to their positions of Figures l and 4 for resealing the lower end of the bore 23. It will be obvious that the contents of the tub I3 may be drained through the pipe I1 when the unit I2 is in an open position of Figure 3.

Figures 6 to 11 illustrate another formof the drain pipe closure and closure actuatingunit, designated generally 56. In Figure ll a laundry tub, designated generally 5| is illustrated to illustrate one application and use of the unit 59 a1- though it will be understood that said unit could be utilized with the drain pipe of a washing machine or other receptacle. The laundry tub 5| is provided with at least two sections and is shown as having two drain pipes, each designated generally 52 extending downwardly therefrom and having lower discharge ends 53 which are disposed at an oblique angle to a supporting surface 54 and which open thereabove and which are laterally oiset with respect to the upper ends 55 of the drain ypipes which connect with drain openings of the tub bottom 56, as illustrated in Figure 1. The tub 5I is supported by depending legs 51 which rest upon the supporting surface 54. The parts 5| to 51 likewise constitute no part of the present invention but have been illustrated and briefly described to illustrate the applicationand use of the drain closure and actuating unit 59.

The unit 50 includes a body member in the form of a sleeve 58 the upper end of which is internally threaded to threadedly engage the externally threaded discharge end 53 of one of the drain pipes 52. The sleeve 58 is provided with an ear 59 which extendsoutwardly and downwardly from adjacent the lower, discharge end 60 thereof and which is disposed on the upper side of the sleeve 58, when said sleeve is in a correctly applied position as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 11. An elongated arm, designated Agenerally 6I has an elongated bifurcated end 62 in which the lower, free end of the ear 59 is received, adjacent the inner end of the bifurcated arm portion 62.' A pin 63 extends through the bifurcated portion 62 .and through the freeend of the ear 59 for pivotally connecting vthe arm 6I to said ear. The other, shorter end 64 of the I arm 6I has a closure or valve-65 mounted on the bore` of; said sleeve 58` when the arm 6l is in its position of Figures Gand 11.' The sleeve portion 58h is*` provided with an integral upwardly opening hook' 68which is disposedv adjacent its upper end andy vvin substantially longitudinally alignment with vthe ear 59 and to which the ends of a contractile coilspring 69 are connected. The spring 69' extends downwardly around the lower portion of the sleeve 58 or ear 59-and around the arm portion Gland is-*anchored intermediate of its ends to the shank end of the fastening 61, said spring normally retaining the parts in the position of Figure 6 for sealing the discharge end 60-ofthe sleeve 58.l

actuating rod an opening 1| inn the upper portion'of the leg 51 which is locatedadjacent the drain pipe 52 to which the unit 5l)r isconnected. rlhe rod 10. is provided with a handle 12 at its upper end which is located above and outwardly of' said leg 51.v Thevrodilextends to one side of theupper-portion 55 lof said drain pipe and over an intermediate portion thereof and diagonally over its lowerend 53; The lower end of the rod 10 is disposed between the furcations of the arm portion 62 and is pivotally connected thereto by a pin 13 near the, outer en d of saidarm.K rIhe arm portion 62, beyond the pin 13 is beveled as seen at 14 along the outer edges of its furcations. A shank V15 is Welded or otherwiseasecured as seen at 16 to the rod A1,0", Vnear the arm 6l and said shank 15 projects perpendicularly from the rod 19 andv generally in anupwarddirection and has a threaded free end to receive a nut 16 forming an adjustable stop for one end 'of anexpansion coil spring-411 the opposite end of Ywhich bears' against oneside of-a washer 18-which in turn rests against aportion of the upper side of an elongated, substantially rigid latch strip 19. The strip 19 is of arcuate cross section adjacent a tapered end 80 thereof and of inverted channel-shaped cross section adjacent its opposite, laterally enlarged end 8 l. The enlarged portion 8l is provided with an-opening 82 through which the shank 15 loosely extends. The terminal portion of the restricted end 80 of the latch platev19 engages a portion of the upper side of the rod 10, above the shank 15 and the enlarged end 8l oflsaid strip 19, beyond the opening 82 is engaged by the terminals of the furcations of the arm portion 62.

When the closure or valve 65 is in a closed position the arm 62 is disposed substantially at a right angle to the axis of the sleeve 58 and at an acute angle to the spring pressed latch strip 19 so that the spring 11' by urging the latch strip 19 toward the rod will cooperate with the spring 69 to retain the valve or closure 65 in its closed position. However, when apull in an upward direction is exerted on the handle 12 the arm 6| will be caused to rock in a clockwise direction on its pivot 63 causing the terminals of the furcations of the arm portion 62 to slide relatively to l the latch strip 19 and toward the shank 15 from the position of Figure 6 toward the position of 19 extends loosely through' Figure 7 and as the rod 10 reaches its position of Figure '7 in which the valve 65 is in a fully opened position, the latch strip 19 will engage the beveled surfaces 14 and the pressure of the spring 11 will be suflicient to hold the parts in their positions of Figure '7 and against the action of the spring 69 which is disposedsubstantially 'in alignment with the pivot 63 so that said spring ment-of therod 10, Asthe-armSZswingsclockwiseV and the terminals of! the arm4 61 lswings clockwiseand the terminalsof its portion` 62-move out of engagementwith thel latch strip. 19` the spring 1-1 will force said strip inwardly toward a position nearly parallel to the-rod 10 from its angular position 'of Figure 6y andv said strip 19 in so movingwill pivot on-therod 19 at itsupper restricted end 89.. Conversely', when the closure 65 is ina closed-position and the arm 6I is,` disposed at anacute angle to the latch strip 19 the spring 11, will cooperate with the spring 69Yto retainA thparts in their positions of Figure. 1.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to', without departing fromv the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention-z l. A kdrain piper` closure and actuating unit comprisingv a body member having a sleeve portion provided with a bore` extending through the sleeve portion froml end-to-end thereof, oneend of theboreof said sleeve portion being adapted to detachably engage the outlet end ofv a drain pipe, a-near-l projectingfrom the bodymember adjacent-the opposite, discharge end of' thev sleeve portion, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on said ear,I a closure member carried by one endA of said arm for engaging against the discharge end of the sleeve portion forclosing the borethereof, spring means-anchored to said body member and connected to said endof the arm for urgingsaid armf to'rockin a direction for retaining the closure member in sealing engagement with thedischarge endl of,l the sleeve portion, an actuating rod pivotally connected at one of its ends to said arm adjacent its opposite end, a shank projecting'perpendicularly from the actuating rod adjacent said arm, a latch strip of channel-shaped cross section having an opening adjacent one end thereof for loosely engaging said shank, the end of said latch strip, remote from said opening thereof, being disposed to fulcrum and slide on the actuating rod, the terminal portion of the last mentioned end of said arm being disposed to fulcrum and slide in the channel of the opposite end of the .latch strip, an adjustable stop carried by the outer end of said shank, and an expansion spring bearing on the stop and latch strip and carried by said shank for releasably retaining the arm at an acute angle relatively to the actuating rod and latch strip and with the closure in alclosed position or at an obtuse angle to the actuating rod and latch strip and with the closure in an open position, said actuating rod being longitudinally movable in one direction for rocking the arm to swing the closure to a closed position and being movable inthe opposite direction for rocking the arm to swing the closure to an open position.

2. A drain pipe closure and actuating unit comprising a body member having a sleeve portion provided with a bore extending through the sleeve portion from end-to-end thereof, one end of the bore of said sleeve portion being adapted to detachably engage the outlet end of a drain pipe, an ear projecting from the body member adjacent the opposite, discharge end of the sleeve portion, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on said ear, a closure member carried' i by one end of said arm for engaging against the discharge end of the sleeve portion for closing' the bore thereof, spring means anchored to said body member and connected to said end of the' -a'rmfor urging said arm to rock in a direction for Vof channel-shaped cross section having an opening adjacent one end thereof for loosely engaging vsaid shank, the end of, said latch strip, remote from said opening thereof, being disposed to fulcrum and slide on the actuating rod, the terminal portion Vof the last mentioned end of said arm being disposed to fulcrum and slide in the channel of the opposite end of the latch strip, anadt, Ajustable stop carried by the outer end of said' shank, and an expansion spring bearing on the stop and latch strip and carried by said shank for releasably retaining the arm at an acute angle relatively to the actuating rod and latch strip and with the closure in a closed position or at an vobtuse angle to the actuating rodand latch strip and with the closure in an open position, said actuating rod being longitudinally movable in one direction for rocking the arm to swing the closure to a closedposition and being movable in the opposite direction for rocking the'arm to swin'g the closure to an open position, said expansion spring cooperating with the first mentioned spring for releasably retaining the arm in either,

of said positions. l

3. A closure and closure actuator for drain pipes comprising a sleeve member having one end adapted to be detachably fastened to the outlet enclV of a drain pipe and having a bore extending I longitudinally therethrough and forming an extension of the discharge end of the drain pipe,

,-an ear projecting from said sleeve-and extending beyond the oppositedischarge end of said sleeve,.

for closing the bore thereof in one position of said arm, an actuating rod pivotally connected at one of its ends to said arm adjacent its op- .posite end, a latch plate having .one end fulcrumed on the actuating rod, the terminal of the last mentioned end of said arm slidably and pivotally engaging the latch plate adjacent its opposite end, the first mentioned end of said arm being disposedat an acute angle to the actuating rod and latch plate when the valve is in a closed position and at an obtuse angle to the actuating rod and latch plate when the valve is in an open position, and spring means yieldably urging said latch plate to rock on its iirst mentioned end toward the actuating rod for releasably retaining said arm against rocking movement relatively to the ear for retaining the valve in either an open or a closed position.

ORVILLE F. COUCHOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS McEwen Nov. 16, 1948 

